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Europe Daily Bulletin No. 8610

19 December 2003
Contents Publication in full By article 34 / 42
GENERAL NEWS / (eu) eu/state aid
Special tax regime applicable in France for takeovers of ailing companies under General Tax Code is incompatible with European rules

Brussels, 18/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - Following an in-depth study launched in August 2002, the Commission has decided that the special tax regime applicable in France for take-overs of ailing companies is incompatible with the state aid rules laid down in the Treaty and should be ended. Final decision on tax aid for take-overs of ailing companies. The Commission was not notified in advance of this regime, which has been in force since 1989. The General Tax Code provides for total exemption...

Contents

A LOOK BEHIND THE NEWS
: An order of priorities to get out of the institutional crisis
THE DAY IN POLITICS
(EU) EU/IRISH PRESIDENCY: Two tasks await Ireland during first half of 2004: completing the Constitution and welcoming enlargement
(EU) EU/IGC/CONVENTION: Following failure of IGC summit, VGE says enlarged Union finds itself without "perspective for suitable institutional framework" and debate will need to begin again at end of 2004 or beginning of 2005 - Convention's draft only document on table
(EU) EP/IGC: EP wants IGC to start up again in January with summit before enlargement
(EU) EU/IRAN:
(EU) EP/CONSTITUTION/PES: Call from Socialist MEPs on rebound from Brussels failure
(EU) EP/IGC/IRISH PRESIDENCY:
(EU) EU/ESDP/IGC:
(EU) EP/COLOMBIA:
GENERAL NEWS
(EU) EU/AGRICULTURE: Tobacco and cotton producing countries continue to block reform proposals - Other council results
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Europêche and COGECA tell Council President Alemanno of their concern
(EU) EU/FISHERIES: Member States negotiate all night for agreement on catch allowances and fishing days
(EU) EU/HEALTH: David Byrne says there should be no hasty conclusions about transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
(EU) EU/TAXATION: Council is to adopt common position on 22 December for extending VAT system for high labour intensive work - Acceding countries also ask for extension
(EU) EU/WTO: EU, United States and Canada to discuss dispute over hormoned meat in Geneva in January
(EU) EU/THAILAND: Thai warning about Airbus complains about treatment of its farming exports
(EU) EU/STABILITY PACT:
(EU) EU/REGIONAL: Facing pressure from net contributors, Barnier recommends "more cohesion policy" in enlarged EU for more growth and enhanced competitiveness
(EU) EU/EP/STATUTE: Parliament votes well and wisely, Pat Cox says
(EU) EP/BUDGET: Consensual adoption of austerity budget for 2004, at 0.98% of GNI in 25-member Europe - Link with debate on forthcoming financial perspectives - Schreyer criticises Verheugen's support to Letter of Six
(EU) EP/TRANSPORT/ENVIRONMENT: Yes to result on conciliation on eco-points - tense debate with Austrian MEPs who are resolutely opposed
(EU) EP/ENVIRONMENT: Following vote on his report on environmental liability, Toine Manders hopes conciliation can be avoided and that directive will be adopted this mandate
(EU) EP/IMMIGRATION/CHURCH:
(EU) UE/INTERNAL MARKET: String of offences, from stuffed animals in Netherlands to "hand-made" cigarettes in Germany
(EU) EU/BURMA: EU counter-measures for failure to cooperate in fight against money laundering
(EU) EU/STEEL/UKRAINE: Quotas for some steel products are maintained in 2004
(EU) EU/GSP: Generalised system of preferences is extended
(EU) EU/WTO: Eurochambres calls for talks to be resumed as soon as possible
(EU) EU/TRADE UNIONS:
(EU) EU/TELECOMMUNICATIONS: Reasoned opinion against seven Member States over electronic communications
(EU) EU/ENERGY: Action against Luxembourg over energy saving
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET: Infringement procedures against eleven Member States with regard to qualifications, copyright and financial services
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET: Reasoned opinion sent to France to end its practice of imposing double taxation on second-hand vehicles imported from Germany
(EU) EU/STATE AID: Special tax regime applicable in France for takeovers of ailing companies under General Tax Code is incompatible with European rules
(EU) EU/INTERNAL MARKET: Reasoned opinions sent to France, Spain, Belgium and Portugal on pension funds
(EU) EU/ECONOMY:
(EU) UE/TRANSPORT: Green light for German shipyard financial aid scheme
(EU) UE/COMPETITION: Fine for copper tube cartel
(EU) UE/COMPETITION: Tchibo allowed to purchase Allianz's share in Beiersdorf
(EU) UE/COMPETITION: Green light for acquisition of Midlands Electricity by E.ON
SUPPLEMENT
“EUROPE”/Documents No. 2343: Barcelona Process: Decisions of Euro-Mediterranean Forum on Energy
€ VALUE IN DIFFERENT CURRENCIES ON 18/12/2003: